Event Preview: Jeff McDonald Classic

In its third year. The Jeff McDonald Classic present an ambitious three game slate. While it will not boast the top level college talent of previous fields. It’s a diverse geographic slate of historically strong winning programs. As I have done in the past. I will preview the games below. Before shifting to the personal and discuss why this event is important to me. Spoiler alert, it will be different than previous years.

Game #1 Benzie Central vs Elk Rapids

Two of the more consistent Division III programs in Northern Michigan will face off in the opener. Benzie Central have recovered after a very slow start to the season. The slow start was to be expected after graduating four starter Jaxon Childers (Northern Michigan-FB) They have recently notched quality wins over Frankfort and Traverse City St Francis. Their last game was a single digit loss to Glen Lake a top-5 team in the state for Division III.

The Huskies are led by a strong backcourt in senior Andrew Gray and junior Rowan Zickert. Gray is a versatile scorer who has improved from last year. Zickert has played on varsity since his freshman year. He began his career with a much earned reputation as a shooter. As his career has progressed, he has added playmaking ability to the skillset. He is now a true combo guard with one more year to continue developing.

As a brief aside, Elk Rapids has had a big year off the court. Opening one of the nicest facilities in the entire region. On the court, the Elks come in with four losses. However there is not a bad loss in there. Losing to state ranked teams in both Divisions 2-3. The are led by the inside out senior duo of Keegan Cotterman and Wyatt Bargy.

Cotterman is an excellent shooter with an athletic and sturdy 6-3 frame. He has a unique release from the perimeter. However it is effective and hard to block. Has the size to strength to bang down low if needed. He doesn’t need to often due the presence of Bargy. The 6-6 Bargy is a load on the block. He is not going get moved off his sport. Despite the considerable girth is light on his feet and mobile.

Game #2 petoskey vs Saginaw Swan Valley

The rubber match pits essentially two .500 teams. Petoskey is young team that looked like they were headed towards a soft rebuild. They got off to an excellent 5-1 start. However they have dropped five out of their last six to start the 2025 portion of their schedule.

The Northmen are led by senior Mason Fralick. The 5-11 guard excels defensively and does what you expect from floor general with his experience. He is a good shooter as well. This allows him to set up penetration. Petoskey had one the better football teams in the region this past year. Led by longtime Cadillac head Jim Webb— but I digress. Watch out for gridiron standouts Korbin Sulitis and Haden Janes. That have committed to Northwood and Hillsdale respectively and their athleticism translates to the hardwood.

While Fralick and company are the present for Petoskey. The future stays in the family and is very bright. Braden Fralick is a 6-1 freshman who has already made strong contributions at the varsity level. I first met the younger Fralik at a high school elite camp a few years ago. Mason had gotten sick and Braden came down to take his spot. He more than held his own with players who were four or even five years older.

Swan Valley comes in from the Tri-City area with a similar record. They are led by junior guard Cooper Wagner. The 5-11 guard played well in this very gymnasium at a team camp as a rising sophomore. He wasn’t very big then, but looks like he had added a few inches since. The increased size should help compliment what was an intriguing skill set that he showed as an underclassmen.

Game #3 Cadillac vs Williamston

The host squad comes in with four losses. That is off from their most recent standard. However they are on a three game winning streak and still possess plenty of talent. Senior 6-7 post Kyle McGowan is going to Northern Michigan to play football. Don’t let that fool you though, he has plenty of basketball upside as well. Very mobile for his size and can get off the ground quickly. He also has a soft touch around the basket.

Gavin Goetz is a skilled 6-6 forward with a similar frame to McGowan. He has the skillset to play out on the perimeter. He can initiate offense and play point for the Vikings when needed. Like their Big North brethren, Cadillac features a freshman with an extremely bright future. Dominic Wing is versatile 6-4 lefty who also played varsity football for Vikings. He got off to a slow start due to a football injury. He appears to be getting more comfortable at the varsity level in the second semester.

Williamston is only a few years removed from a Division II state championship. While they currently do not feature that level of talent. The Hornets have some talent to rebuild with. Specifically three juniors in Jacob Martin, Zachary Kuleza, and Tommy Pratt. The group matches up well positionally as you have a guard, a wing, and post respectively. Don’t be fooled by the substandard record. They have faced a gauntlet of good teams in the Lansing area.

The Important Thing….

I usually close the preview of this event by reminiscing on the event’s namesake. Jeff McDonald was a very good coach and an even better person. He left this world far too early due to cancer.

However I am struck by the opponent on the other side taking on Coach McDonald’s old team. The head coach who helped build Williamston’s state championship foundation was a man named Jason Bauer. Like Coach McDonald, cancer claimed his life far too soon. He would be in his early to mid 40’s today.

Sorry for the approximate, but there is no need to do research. He would be my age. I know this because he was a classmate of mine at Grand Valley St. I’m not going to pretend we were close friends. Just casual acquaintances. Bonded slightly through a morning biology class we both could have lived without.

He was at my apartment a few times for that reason. Of course I watched him more often as standout on the basketball team. He was an imposing figure on the court, but a gentle giant off it. So much so, I was surprised when went into coaching. Not so much when heard it was at Williamston. He loved his hometown and returned there after college.

He built quite a program. He showed his strength and fortitude by making it to the bench when they first made their first trip to the Breslin Center. Fighting through the illness that eventually claimed his life. He left behind a family and team that would eventually win a state championship.

He wasn’t there to see it. I remember that weekend and thinking about how cruel and tenuous life can be. There are other stories on that team that I am leaving out for brevity. There are other stories on the Cadillac side I am leaving out. Stories upon stories. You can become slightly despondent thinking about them.

Or… you can strive to be present and enjoy every moment. Knowing nothing is guaranteed. Coach McDonald was good at that. I remember an unusual conversation I had with him. It was unusual as it happened mere seconds before one of the biggest games of his coaching career. At Petoskey High School in a regional final against Standish-Sterling. He was in his catchers crouch on the sideline, and me behind the scorer’s table just waiting for a much delayed tip off. Just a counselor and his former student catching up.

If you attend Saturday, take something besides just a good day of basketball. Make time, enjoy the moment. Maybe tone down the vitriol towards the officials. If you are watching your kids. Take a deep breath and simply enjoy the fact that they are just healthy enough to play. Encourage and build up. Don’t discourage and tear down. Your chance to be a parent, your child’s chance to play this game, and life in general— are all too short.